war of the spider queen 4 extinction-第22部分

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　　　Just　as　Pharaun　had　done。
　　　A　thought　occurred　to　Ryld　then…a　notion　that　was　almost　inconceivable；　so　foreign　was　it　to　the　drow　creed。　Had　Halisstra　deliberately　sacrificed　herself　so　that　he　might　live？
　　　No；　that　couldn't　be　possible。　She　must　have　one　final　trick　in　her　pocket…some　hidden　weapon　or　scroll　that　would　allow　her　to　escape；　to　rejoin　him。　But　if　so；　why　hadn't　she　given　him　some　clue…
　　　Because　she　was　worried　that　the　priestesses　would　hear　it？　Or　was　it　because　she　expected　Ryld　to　e　to　her？　To　help　her　escape。
　　　Ryld；　who　had　been　slowing　his　pace　all　along；　at　last　stopped。　He　stood；　listening　to　the　rain　pattering　down　on　the　branches　overhead；　wondering　if　any　of　the　priestesses　had　followed　him。　With　all　the　noise　the　rain　was　making；　he　couldn't　be　certain　they　hadn't。
　　　He　hated　the　constant　dribble　of　water　from　the　sky。　It　trickled　down　his　face；　making　him　squint。　It　had　turned　his　piwafwi　into　a　heavy；　wet　blanket　that　clung　to　his　shoulders　and　stuck　to　his　thighs　as　he　walked。　It　was　making　his　armor　squeak　and　would　eventually　cause　his　swords　to　rust。　The　rain　was　like　a　waterfall　he　couldn't　step　out　of。　He　was　trapped　in　it…just　as　he　was　trapped　in　the　invisible　webs　Halisstra　had　woven　around　him　with　her　smiles　and　kisses　and　sighs。
　　　Pulling　his　wet　piwafwi　closer　around　him；　he　enveloped　himself　in　its　magic；　being　just　another　shadow　in　the　overcast　and　dripping　forest。　He　made　his　way　back　to　the　spot　where　they'd　fought　the　troll。
　　　Ryld　circled　the　area；　searching　the　rapidly　melting　slush　for　footprints　to　see　which　way　Halisstra　and　the　priestesses　had　gone；　but　found　none。　Cautiously　he　crept　closer　to　the　spot；　expecting　to　hear　their　voices　at　any　moment。
　　　He　saw　the　swath　of　chopped　vegetation　the　barrier　of　blades　had　cleared　and　the　blackened　patch　of　ground　where　the　troll　had　died；　but　no　sign　of　the　priestesses。　He　drew　Splitter　and　spoke　the　words　that　would　activate　its　magic；　assuring　himself　that　the　priestesses　weren't　using　an　illusion　or　invisibility　to　cloak　themselves。
　　　Satisfied　that　he　was　alone；　he　strode　into　the　clearing。　Squatting；　he　studied　the　footprints　left　in　the　slush。
　　　Halisstra　stood　here；　he　thought；　and　one　of　the　priestesses　there。　The　other　two　had　stood　there；　and　there　。　。　。
　　　And　that　was　where　the　footsteps　stopped。　The　priestesses　hadn't　left　on　foot；　they'd　used　magic　to　spirit　themselves　away…and　Halisstra　with　them。
　　　She　was　gone；　and　there　was　no　trail　to　follow。
　　　Unless　。　。　。
　　　Yes；　it's　just　possible；　he　thought　as　his　eye　fell　on　a　footprint　in　the　slush。
　　　It　was　the　track　of　the　gray　animal　that　had　been　fleeing　through　the　forest。　The　beasts　had　been　municating　with　each　other；　at　least；　and　might　just　municate　with　him。
　　　Ryld　sheathed　his　sword；　and　began　to　follow　the　trail。
　　　
Chapter　Ten
　　　Valas　peered　down　at　the　expanse　of　dark　water　below　him。　Lake　Thoroot　was　even　larger　than　he'd　been　told…so　wide　that　the　far　side　of　it　was　lost　in　darkness。　It　reminded　him　of　the　wide；　flat　expanse　of　Anauroch；　the　desert　they'd　recently　visited。　The　difference；　however；　was　that　the　lake　had　steep　cliffs　hemming　it　in　on　every　side；　a　waterfall　that　thundered　into　it　from　the　cavern　where　Valas　perched；　and　a　high；　domed　ceiling　overhead。　Enormous　stalactites　hung　from　that　ceiling。　Some　had　points　that　touched　the　water；　others　were　broken　off　like　jagged　teeth；　making　the　cavern　look　like　an　enormous；　ranged　mouth。　Valas　shivered；　hoping　it　wasn't　an　omen　of　what　was　to　e。
　　　A　hand　touched　his　shoulder。　Turning；　he　saw　Pharaun。　Danifae　was　right　behind　him。
　　　〃What's　wrong？〃　the　mage　asked。
　　　〃Nothing；〃　Valas　answered。　〃It's　just　the　spray　from　the　waterfall。　I'm　chilled。〃
　　　Quenthel　scrambled　up　behind　Pharaun　and　Danifae…who　backed　away；　one　wary　eye　on　the　whip　in　Quenthel's　belt。　Quenthel　was　crouching　to　negotiate　the　low　ceiling；　her　hands　and　feet　spread　wide　to　keep　her　balance　on　the　slippery　rocks。　That　and　the　hungry　gleam　in　her　eye　made　her　look　like　a　dark　spider。　Jeggred　was　one　pace　behind　her；　as　usual；　moving　nimbly　across　the　uneven　ledge；　his　second；　smaller　set　of　arms　held　out　for　balance。
　　　Quenthel　peered　into　the　vast　cavern　beyond　the　waterfall　and　asked；　〃Have　we　reached　Lake　Thoroot？〃
　　　Her　voice　was　barely　audible　over　the　roar　of　falling　water。
　　　〃It's　just　below；〃　Valas　answered　with　a　nod。　〃About　fifty　paces　straight　down。〃
　　　〃Do　you　see　any　sign　of　the　city…or　the　ship？〃
　　　Valas　shook　his　head　and　replied；　〃Both　are　probably　far　beneath　the　surface。〃
　　　But　which　part　of　the　surface？　he　wondered。
　　　For　all　Valas　knew；　Zanhoriloch　was　on　the　far　side　of　the　lake；　though　he　wasn't　about　to　admit　that　to　Quenthel。　They　had　entered　through　the　only　approach　to　the　lake　the　scout　was　familiar　with。　The　last　thing　he　wanted　was　to　exhibit　any　weakness　or　uncertainty；　even　after　they　found　the　ship　and　left　the　Underdark…and　his　expertise…behind。
　　　One　hand　clutching　the　wet　rock　beside　him；　Valas　leaned　as　far　out　as　he　dared；　studying　the　wall　below。　The　tunnel　they'd　been　following　was　a　wide　one；　with　a　natural　ledge　of　rock　on　one　side　of　the　river。　It　had　provided　a　wele　shortcut　to　the　lake；　an　easy　trek　after　their　long；　weary　journey。　But　from　there；　things　got　tricky。　The　river　burst　out　of　the　tunnel　like　a　horizontal　fountain；　its　spray　soaking　the　rock　for　a　great　distance　on　either　side。　Through　the　mist；　Valas　could　see　faintly　glowing　streaks　of　green　against　the　stone：　patches　of　water…soaked；　slippery　fungi。
　　　Valas　felt　someone　looming　behind　him；　and　fetid　breath　told　him　who　it　was。　Jeggred　stared　out　at　the　lake；　his　monstrous　body　crowding　Valas　and　nearly　forcing　him　over　the　edge。
　　　Elbowing　Jeggred　back；　Valas　shouted　back　to　the　others　over　the　draegloth's　head；　〃I'd　like　to　scout　ahead　before　we　go　any　farther。　Pharaun；　I'll　need　magic　to　climb　down；　and　that　spell　of　yours　that　will　allow　me　to　breathe　underwater。〃
　　　〃You're　going　alone？〃　the　mage　asked。　〃Shouldn't　you　take　someone　with　you？〃　He　glanced　past　Quenthel　as　if　anticipating　someone　else　to　materialize　behind　her；　then　he　sighed。　〃What　about　Jeggred？〃
　　　〃No！〃　Quenthel　barked；　the　vipers　in　her　whip　lashing。　〃Jeggred　stays　with　me。〃
　　　Sensing　her　anger；　Jeggred　scrambled　over　to　crouch　at　her　side。
　　　〃He　can　take　Danifae；〃　Quenthel　said。
　　　Before　Valas　could　shake　his　head　in　protest；　Pharaun　butted　in。
　　　〃Danifae　will　only　slow　him　down…and　I　don't　want　to　waste　my　time　and　talents　preparing　the　same　spells　twice。〃
　　　Valas　glanced　between　Quenthel　and　Pharaun。　Valas　had　to　tread　carefully；　so　as　not　to　tip　the　scales…a　balancing　act　that　was　growing　wearisome。　It　would　be　a　relief　to　get　away　on　his　own　for　a　while。
　　　〃I'll　go　alone；〃　he　told　them。
　　　The　Bregan　D'aerthe　scout　took　off　his　piwafwi；　then　set　his　haversack；　bow；　and　quiver　beside　it。　He　also　shed　his　chain　mail…its　weight　would　only　drag　him　to　the　bottom　of　the　lake…and　his　boots。　He　carefully　removed　from　his　enchanted　vest　any　of　his　many　t